President Bill Clinton on the National Academy Foundation

In President Bill Clinton's new book, "Giving: How Each of Us Can Change the World," he cites the National Academy Foundation as an exemplary model organization:

Another citizen-led effort to address the shortage of engineers and engineering technicians deserves mention. In 2007, the National Academy Foundation is launching a four-year effort to establish 110 Academies of Engineering in urban school districts across the United States designed to produce 8,800 high school graduates a year who will go on to college and careers in engineering and engineering technology. The project will emphasize increased participation of women and underrepresented minorities, preparing them for post-secondary studies by ensuring their competence in required mathematics, science, and technical subjects.

Over the next decade, employment demand in all engineering fields is projected to increase by more than 13 percent, with demand for engineering technicians increasing by nearly 12 percent. In 2005 women made up almost half the U.S. workforce, but only 10 percent of all engineers were female. African Americans comprised 10.8 percent of the workforce but only 3 percent of the engineers. The comparable figures for Hispanics were 13 percent and 4 percent.

If any NGO can make a dent in this problem, it's the National Academy Foundation. Founded in 1980 by Sandy Weill, chairman emeritus of Citigroup, NAF, in partnership with local business leaders, forms small, career-themed learning communities in large urban high schools. Its established academies in finance, information technology and hospitality and tourism prepare students for college and introduce them to the world of work with the help of adult mentors and advisors. For an annual cost of $260 per student, NAF runs 529 academies supporting the development of more than fifty thousand students, 70 percent of whom are minorities. NAF students have a high school graduation rate of 90 percent, 23 percent higher than the overall graduation rate in the high schools in which the academy operates. More than 80 percent go on to college. Fifty-two percent complete their degrees in four years, compared to the national average of 32 percent, and they are 60 percent less likely than all students to require remedial coursework when they begin college.

NAF works in part because of the involvement of two thousand companies and thousands of mentors. If you or your business is interested in participating, your time will be well spent. The NAF model works. We just need more young people involved in it.

For more information about President Clinton's Book, visit www.clintonfoundation.org/giving.

Reprinted with permission.